Dumbledore was a SLYTHERIN (NOT a Gryffindor) - Harry Potter Theory
Summary
TLDRThis Harry Potter Theory video explores the possibility that Albus Dumbledore, known as a Gryffindor, might have been better suited for Slytherin House due to his ambitious and cunning nature. The video discusses Dumbledore's early life, his relationship with Gellert Grindelwald, and his later decisions to avoid positions of power. It suggests that despite his Slytherin-like traits, Dumbledore's core values and individuality transcended house stereotypes, and his mentorship would have remained impactful regardless of his house affiliation.
Takeaways
- 🏰 Dumbledore's Sorting: The script discusses the possibility that Albus Dumbledore might have been more suited to Slytherin House than Gryffindor, based on his traits and actions throughout the series.
- 🧙♂️ Dumbledore's Ambition: It highlights Dumbledore's ambition and arrogance in his youth, traits often associated with Slytherin, and his desire to travel and be recognized as a brilliant wizard.
- 🌐 Dumbledore's Early Beliefs: The script mentions Dumbledore's early prejudiced beliefs and his fascination with the Deathly Hallows, which he shared with Gellert Grindelwald, indicating a darker side to his character.
- 🔮 Change in Perspective: As the Harry Potter series progressed, the initial dichotomy between Gryffindor 'good guys' and Slytherin 'bad guys' was challenged, showing more complexity in characters like Snape and Dumbledore.
- 💡 Dumbledore's Resourcefulness: The script points out Dumbledore's resourcefulness, his ability to plan and manipulate situations to achieve his goals, which are traits often linked to Slytherin.
- 🧙♂️ Dumbledore's Cunning: It emphasizes Dumbledore's cunning nature, showcasing how he used his intelligence to manipulate people around him to serve a greater purpose.
- 🚫 Dumbledore's Rejection of Power: The script describes how Dumbledore consciously avoided positions of power, fearing his own ambitions, which contrasts with typical Slytherin traits but also shows self-awareness and growth.
- 🔑 Dumbledore's Core Values: Despite his Slytherin-like traits, Dumbledore's core values of love, compassion, and the pursuit of good were always present and drove his actions.
- 🤔 Individuality vs. Stereotypes: The script argues that house affiliations do not define an individual's character, suggesting that Dumbledore's individuality would have remained intact regardless of his house.
- 👑 Dumbledore's Mentorship: It suggests that Dumbledore's mentorship and guidance to Harry and others would not have been significantly different had he been in Slytherin, as his impact extended beyond house boundaries.
- 🌈 Dumbledore's Philosophy: The script concludes with Dumbledore's belief in the complexity of good and evil within everyone, and the importance of the choices individuals make, reflecting his nuanced view of morality.
Q & A
Why might Albus Dumbledore have been more well-suited to Slytherin House according to the video?
-The video suggests that Dumbledore's traits of ambition, resourcefulness, and cunningness align more with Slytherin House, especially during his youth, and that he had a desire for power and was influenced by prejudiced ideologies, which are also associated with Slytherin.
What is the significance of the four houses in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?
-The four houses represent the characteristics and traits most valued by each of the founding members of Hogwarts: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. They are named after the founders' surnames and serve to divide the student population.
How did the early Harry Potter series portray Gryffindor and Slytherin houses?
-In the early series, Gryffindor was portrayed as the house of 'good guys,' including protagonists like Harry and Dumbledore, while Slytherin was depicted as the house of 'bad guys,' including antagonists like Draco Malfoy and Lord Voldemort.
What revelation from wizardingworld.com challenges the traditional view of Slytherin House?
-The revelation that the powerful and benevolent wizard Merlin was a Slytherin student suggests that not all Slytherins are prejudiced and that the house has produced individuals who have greatly benefited all of wizardkind.
What aspects of Dumbledore's character were revealed to be Slytherin-like?
-Dumbledore's ambition, arrogance, and early desire for power and control, as well as his openness to prejudice, were revealed to be traits more commonly associated with Slytherin House.
How did Dumbledore's ambition manifest in his early life?
-Dumbledore's ambition was evident in his plans to travel the world and his belief in his own brilliance as a young wizard. He also resented his responsibility for his sister, Ariana, feeling that his talents were being wasted.
What is the significance of Dumbledore's relationship with Gellert Grindelwald?
-Dumbledore's relationship with Grindelwald highlighted his early desire for greatness and power, as they bonded over the idea of uniting the Deathly Hallows and subjugating Muggle kind, showing a darker side to Dumbledore's character.
Why did Dumbledore turn down the position of Minister for Magic?
-Dumbledore turned down the position multiple times because he did not trust himself with that much power, recognizing his past weaknesses and temptations towards power.
How did Dumbledore's resourcefulness manifest in his actions throughout the series?
-Dumbledore's resourcefulness was shown through his meticulous planning and use of the people and resources around him to achieve his goals, such as arranging his own death to save Draco Malfoy and manipulate events to his advantage.
What is an example of Dumbledore's cunningness as portrayed in the video?
-Dumbledore's cunningness is exemplified by his manipulations of those around him, including training Harry to be a 'pig for slaughter' and manipulating Newt Scamander into an unlikely hero role during Grindelwald's uprising.
What does the video suggest about Dumbledore's character regardless of his house affiliation?
-The video suggests that Dumbledore's core values of love, compassion, and the pursuit of good were independent of his house affiliation, and that his individuality and personal agency would have driven him to make similar choices regardless of being in Gryffindor or Slytherin.
How does the video address the potential impact of Dumbledore being sorted into Slytherin?
-The video proposes that while Dumbledore being sorted into Slytherin would add an interesting layer to his character, it may not have significantly changed his actions or the outcomes in the Wizarding World, as his character was defined by more than just his house affiliation.
What is the 'butterfly effect' mentioned in the video, and how does it relate to Dumbledore's house affiliation?
-The 'butterfly effect' is a concept from chaos theory that illustrates how small changes can lead to significant outcomes. The video uses it to speculate on the potential changes in the Wizarding World if Dumbledore had been sorted into Slytherin, but ultimately concludes that the impact might not be as drastic as one might expect.
What does the video suggest about the relationship between house stereotypes and individual character?
-The video suggests that while house affiliations carry certain stereotypes, they do not define an individual's entire character. Dumbledore's complexity and individuality would have remained intact even if he were sorted into Slytherin.
How does the video discuss the influence of Dumbledore's mentorship on Harry?
-The video posits that Dumbledore's mentorship would have extended beyond his own house and that his guidance empowered Harry regardless of his house affiliation. The impact of his mentorship was not tied to being in Gryffindor or Slytherin.
Outlines
🐍 Dumbledore's Slytherin Suitability
This paragraph explores the possibility that Albus Dumbledore, known as a Gryffindor, might have been better suited to Slytherin House due to his ambitious and cunning nature. It discusses the initial dichotomy presented in the Harry Potter series between Gryffindors as 'good' and Slytherins as 'bad,' and how this perception evolved over time. The paragraph also delves into Dumbledore's early life, his ambition, and his relationship with Gellert Grindelwald, hinting at a darker past that aligns with Slytherin traits.
🧙♂️ Dumbledore's Ambition and Resourcefulness
The second paragraph examines Dumbledore's ambition and resourcefulness, traits typically associated with Slytherin House. It highlights Dumbledore's early desire for power and how he later sought to distance himself from positions of authority to avoid the temptation of power. The narrative also showcases his meticulous planning and ability to manipulate events and people to achieve his goals, all of which are indicative of a cunning and strategic mind.
🦉 The Impact of Dumbledore's House on Wizarding World Lore
This paragraph contemplates the butterfly effect and its application to the Wizarding World, speculating on how Dumbledore's sorting into Slytherin could have led to significant changes in the lore. However, it argues that despite the potential for change, Dumbledore's core personality traits and values would have remained consistent, suggesting that his house affiliation may not have greatly influenced his actions or the overall narrative.
🌟 The Enduring Influence of Dumbledore's Mentorship
The final paragraph discusses the enduring impact of Dumbledore's mentorship on Harry Potter and the broader Wizarding World, suggesting that his house affiliation did not define his influence or the guidance he provided. It emphasizes the importance of Dumbledore's core values, such as love and compassion, and how these transcended house stereotypes. The paragraph concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on how a Slytherin Dumbledore might have impacted the Wizarding World and encourages engagement with the content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Dumbledore
💡Gryffindor
💡Slytherin
💡Ambition
💡Cunning
💡Sorting Hat
💡The Greater Good
💡Manipulation
💡Machiavellian
💡Butterfly Effect
Highlights
Albus Dumbledore may have been more suited to Slytherin House.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's four founding members and their houses represent different characteristics.
Early Harry Potter series emphasized Gryffindor and Slytherin houses, with protagonists as Gryffindors and antagonists as Slytherins.
Dumbledore's ambition and arrogance in his youth align with Slytherin traits.
Dumbledore's initial plan to travel the world and his resentment towards his family responsibilities reflect his ambition.
Dumbledore's relationship with Gellert Grindelwald and their shared desire for power and control.
Dumbledore's openness to prejudice in his youth is another trait associated with Slytherin.
Dumbledore's later life choices show a conscious effort to avoid positions of great power.
Dumbledore's resourcefulness is evident in his long-term plans, such as mentoring Harry.
Dumbledore's cunning is showcased through his manipulations of others for strategic purposes.
Dumbledore's sorting into Gryffindor may have been a plot decision rather than a reflection of his true nature.
The butterfly effect illustrates how Dumbledore being in Slytherin could theoretically change the Wizarding World significantly.
Dumbledore's core values of love, compassion, and the pursuit of good were independent of his house affiliation.
Dumbledore's mentorship and guidance extended beyond his own house, impacting students from all houses.
Dumbledore's character complexity and individuality would remain regardless of his house affiliation.
Dumbledore's quotes emphasize that a person's worth is not determined by their house or background.
The video concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on how a Slytherin Dumbledore might have impacted the Wizarding World.
Transcripts
Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be discussing the many
reasons why Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, famed Headmaster of Hogwarts
and former Gryffindor student, may have been more well-suited to Slytherin House.
As fans, soon after Harry Potter received his letter of acceptance and we were first
introduced to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, we also learned about the magical
institution’s four founding members and how they decided that the student population would
always be divided into four houses, which would represent the characteristics and traits most
valued by each of those founding members. As the majority of you watching this will already know,
the four founding members of Hogwarts School were Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff,
Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin, with the corresponding houses being named after each
of their surnames. And while later instalments of the series eventually focused on students from the
houses of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, the beginning of Harry Potter certainly had a lot more emphasis
on Gryffindor and Slytherin. What’s more, there was a very obvious dichotomy presented between the
two, with all of the protagonist characters—aka the “good guys”—being Gryffindors, and all of the
antagonists—or “bad guys”—being Slytherins. From Harry to the compassionate and friendly Weasley
family who helped him find Platform 9 and ¾, and the world-famous Headmaster Albus Dumbledore,
everyone who was presented as good and heroic in the first few years of Harry’s time at Hogwarts
was a current or former Gryffindor student. By contrast, each of the BADDIES that we
met during Harry’s first few years were all Slytherins, including the bully Draco Malfoy,
the cruel Professor Snape and, of course, the most evil wizard to have ever lived—Lord Voldemort.
And who could forget what Hagrid told Harry before he entered his first year at Hogwarts:
“There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one.”
As the series continues on and the wizarding world grows, however,
adjustments were made that seemed to be trying to rectify this initial black-and-white world
where all of the best witches and wizards were Gryffindors and all of the most evil ones were
Slytherin. For example, years after the final book was published, wizardingworld.com revealed
that the great and powerful wizard Merlin was once a Slytherin student,
describing the many great accomplishments he achieved during his lifetime to support all of
wizardkind, despite their blood purity or ancestry, because—oh ya—almost all
Slytherins were previously described as being super prejudiced as well.
So, it would seem that Professor Albus Dumbledore, who’s initially presented as a mentor and hero to
Harry, was most likely made to be a Gryffindor simply because it aligned with the universe’s
limited perspective of good versus evil at the time. After all, The Philosopher’s
Stone was a novel written for a rather young readership, considering the overall story,
language and age of the central character, Harry Potter. But as the novels progressed,
the plotlines matured and the characters evolved, so did our perspective and understanding of many
of the witches and wizards presented throughout the series. Professor Snape, as it turned out,
wasn’t a two-dimensional, desperately evil Death Eater—and nor was Albus Dumbledore simply a wise,
old wizarding hero, who was Gryffindor through and through. In fact, as mentioned earlier on, some
of Dumbledore’s most prominent characteristics were actually incredibly Slytherin in nature.
And of the top traits associated with that house—ambition, resourcefulness,
and cunningness—Albus Dumbledore had them in spades, if not in his later years, certainly in
his youth. This means that when he was sorted into his house at Hogwarts he would’ve...
Displayed immense ambition. After Dumbledore’s death in Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts,
we come to learn about a side of the Headmaster that had previously been kept quite secret—at
least from Harry: he was once terribly ambitious. In his youth, after Albus graduated from Hogwarts,
he planned to travel the world, believing himself to be an incredibly brilliant and gifted young
wizard—which shows he was also rather arrogant, another trait often associated with Slytherin.
Tragically, before setting off on his world travels, Albus lost his mother and was left
with the responsibility of caring for his unwell, younger sister, Ariana. In a conversation filled
with regret, Dumbledore shared with Harry that he greatly resented his responsibility as Ariana’s
guardian, feeling as though his talents were being wasted with such a task. This was also
around the time that he met Gellert Grindelwald, who inflamed his hunger for greatness and power
even more. The two formed a close relationship, bonding over the idea of uniting the fabled
Deathly Hallows and using them to take over the wizarding world and subjugate Muggle kind. Yes,
the widely celebrated and famously just Albus Dumbledore once wished to force humans into
subservience. This, of course, also demonstrates Dumbledore’s openness to prejudice in his youth,
which as we discussed earlier is another one of the values frequently associated with Slytherins.
Fortunately, Dumbledore eventually moved away from this type of thinking—no longer hiding
hateful and harmful ideologies behind obscure concepts such as “the greater good”. In fact,
Albus even went so far as to carefully remove himself from positions of great power in order
to help keep his propensity for ambition at bay. For example, in 1932, he turned down the
opportunity to be the Supreme Mugwump, leader of the International Confederation of Wizards.
He also turned down (on several occasions) the opportunity to become Minister for Magic.
While catching up with Harry in limbo in 1998, he explains that he turned the
position down repeatedly for one main reason: he didn’t TRUST himself with that much power…
“… I, meanwhile, was offered the post of Minister for Magic, not once,
but several times. Naturally, I refused. I had learned that I was not to be trusted with power.”
"But you'd have been better, much better, than Fudge or Scrimgeour!" burst out Harry.
"Would I?" asked Dumbledore heavily. "I am not so sure. I had proven,
as a very young man, that power was my weakness and my temptation. It is a curious thing, Harry,
but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who,
like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must,
and find to their own surprise that they wear it well. I was safer at Hogwarts…”
And it’s for this reason that Dumbledore remained Headmaster at Hogwarts for as
long as he did - he simply didn’t want to have access to any more power. This
suggests that despite getting far better at suppressing his ambitions,
Dumbledore continued to fear what he may do if given the opportunity for power.
Dumbledore was also very resourceful. Despite keeping himself confined to the position of
Hogwarts’ Headmaster, Albus still managed to use who and what he had access to in order to
accomplish the many plans he put into action over the years. He was a meticulous planner, which was
evident by the end of the Harry Potter series when his six-year-long mentorship of Harry was
revealed to have been motivated by Dumbledore’s desire to set the Boy Who Lived up to sacrifice
himself and defeat Lord Voldemort. Albus also uses his own impending death—after touching the cursed
heirloom ring of Marvolo Gaunt—to his advantage, arranging for Professor Snape to kill him, thereby
saving Draco Malfoy from having to commit murder against his will and solidifying Snape’s position
with the Dark Lord as a loyal Death Eater—which, of course, he was not. In Harry’s sixth year,
Dumbledore also used him as bait to convince Horace Slughorn to return to Hogwarts as the
Potions Professor so that he could eventually use Harry to get Slughorn to share what he told
Tom Riddle about Horcruxes. And so, time and time again, Dumbledore used the people and things at
his disposal to help him achieve his goals. Cold, calculating and resourceful…which leads us to…
The fact that Dumbledore was also an incredibly cunning wizard. While some may argue that
Professor Dumbledore’s smarts align him more with other Ravenclaws, the way in which he utilised his
brilliance was a master class in being cunning. Throughout the series there are many examples of
Dumbledore leveraging this skill, but one of the most notable ways in which Albus showcases his
cunning is through his flawless manipulations of those around him. Of course, we primarily see this
with Harry—with his ultimate manipulation being that he trained up the boy to be—how did Professor
Snape put it?—ah, yes, a “pig for slaughter”. But we also see this with others. For example,
Dumbledore manipulates Newt Scamander into being an unlikely hero during the uprising of Gellert
Grindelwald. And on a much smaller scale, we also see Dumbledore’s calculated manipulation in place
during Harry’s second year, when he hired Gilderoy Lockhart to be the newest Professor of Defence
Against the Dark Arts, knowing that Lockhart was a fraud and believing that this position
would reveal him as such to the wizarding world. Of course, he could’ve just called
him out…but that would’ve lacked Dumbldedore’s affinity for cleverness and intricate planning.
While, of course, it goes without saying that almost every character in Harry Potter COULD be
sorted into any number of houses, there does seem to be some particularly strong evidence
suggesting that Dumbledore may have been a better fit for Slytherin, rather than Gryffindor.
Whether it was simply a plot decision made early on in the series, which then couldn’t be altered,
or the character of Dumbledore asked the Sorting Hat to place him in Gryffindor over Slytherin,
as Harry did, remains to be seen. All I know is that Albus Dumbledore would’ve made a great,
balanced addition to this otherwise rather narrowly defined house of Slytherin.
But I also can’t make a statement like that without next exploring…
What if Dumbledore WAS in Slytherin?
Now..Let me just kick this off by saying that Dumbledore being sorted
in to Slytherin instead of Gryffindor could potentially serve as the catalyst
for an unfathomable number of changes in Wizarding World lore.
For those unfamiliar, there is a concept from chaos theory called
the butterfly effect that illustrates how a small change in one part of a system can lead
to significant and unpredictable outcomes in another part of the system over time.
The name "butterfly effect" comes from the idea that the flapping of a butterfly's wings in one
location could potentially set off a chain of events that eventually lead to something
like the formation of a tornado in another location. In essence,
it symbolizes the idea that seemingly insignificant actions can have
far-reaching and amplified consequences. It’s used to illustrate the idea that even
the smallest changes can lead to outcomes that appear unrelated or disproportionate.
So, as you can imagine, if such small things have this sort of power,
a change as big as Dumbledore being sorted in to Slytherin could
theoretically result in an entirely different Wizarding World altogether.
But here’s where it gets really interesting… I don’t actually think much would have changed.
I think Dumbledore would have very much remained…Dumbledore. You see,
despite being sorted in to Gryffindor, Dumbledore was still quite Machiavellian- often pulling the
puppet strings on others and allowing events to unfold in a way that he saw fit. He liked
to control the narrative, but not for his own personal satisfaction. He exhibited many
stereotypically ‘Slytherin’ traits while remaining in Gryffindor, which tells me
that Dumbledore was not overly influenced by his affiliation with one of the four Hogwarts houses.
Dumbledore is also able to, on multiple occasions, recognize and subdue his desire for power,
something which I feel sets him apart from some of the other Slytherins in the story. I think that
his association with Grindelwald in his youth is a pretty good indication of what he might have been
like in Slytherin: very tempted but ultimately able to avoid straying down the path of darkness.
Dumbledore was not a man who believed the past had any power over dictating
the future. He was also quite outspoken about the fact that the lines are
exceptionally blurred when it comes to the traditional good vs evil dichotomy.
There are quite a few Dumbledore quotes in line with this messaging…Here are a few of them…
"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be."
This quote means that a person's true worth is not determined by where they come from or who their
family is, but rather what kind of person they have become based on their growth and development.
Here Dumbledore reminds us that just because someone
comes from humble beginnings or faces obstacles in life does not mean they
cannot achieve great things through their own efforts and determination.
"While we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one."
This quote emphasizes that while people may be from different backgrounds and have different
cultures, they can still have a common bond through their shared humanity. Dumbledore
is pointing out that despite our differences in language, geography, nationality, or blood-status,
we share the same basic emotions and experiences,
and that should bring us together rather than separate us.
"Differences of habit and language are nothing at
all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open."
This quote suggests that despite our differences, we can still work towards
the same goals as long as we share the same passion and kindness. Dumbledore is saying that
superficial differences are insignificant in the face of a shared aim or desire,
and that an open heart can help bridge any gaps and bring people closer together.
But if you still aren’t convinced, here are some more of the reasons for why I believe
a Slytherin Dumbledore is effectively the same as a Gryffindor Dumbledore.
Core Values: Dumbledore's core values of love,
compassion, and the pursuit of good were deeply ingrained within him, independent of his house
affiliation. Throughout his life, Dumbledore consistently displayed these values, which played
a critical role in shaping the wizarding world's future. I think that, regardless of his house,
Dumbledore's personal agency would have driven him to make similar choices and take similar actions.
For example, Dumbledore's decision to form the Order of the Phoenix
and fight against Voldemort was driven by his commitment to protecting the innocent,
preserving freedom, and upholding justice. These values remained
unchanged and were not necessarily influenced by his house affiliation.
House Stereotypes and Individuality: While house affiliations in Hogwarts
carry certain stereotypes, it's important to remember that these stereotypes do not define
an individual's entire character. Each student possesses a unique combination
of attributes that cannot be solely attributed to their house. Dumbledore,
even in Slytherin, would have retained his own complexity and individuality. Dumbledore had
a very strong character and I’m not sure that would have changed in any scenario.
Influence of Dumbledore's Mentorship
But now you might be wondering-wouldn’t this have changed his dynamic with Harry? Well,
I don’t think that Dumbledore’s house had anything to do with it. In truth,
the impact of Dumbledore's guidance and mentorship always extended beyond his
own house. As the Headmaster, Dumbledore had the opportunity to shape the minds and
values of students from all four houses. His mentorship empowered Harry to challenge evil,
foster inter-house unity, and be a driving force in the war against Voldemort.
While Dumbledore being sorted into Slytherin would have added
an interesting layer to his character and potentially provided some unique perspectives,
I just don’t think things would have been as different as you might expect.
Although, I could be very wrong on this. And that’s why I want to hear
from you guys. Do you agree with this? How do you think a Slytherin Dumbledore
would have impacted the Wizarding World? Leave a comment down below
And, as always, if you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to like it and subscribe to the channel!
Also—be sure to check out the content on Spotify
as well as EXTRA content on my second channel, Harry Potter Theory EXTRA.
Until next time…remember…
“The world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters. We've all got
both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on.”
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